Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE World Athletics Under-20 Championships take centre stage today with Zimbabwean athletes hoping to leave their mark at the meet pencilled for Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, in the US.
The field welcomes more than 1 800 track and field junior athletes from 147 member federations, including Zimbabwe, who are fielding nine athletes.
The junior meet is running until August 9.
Zimbabwe are set to participate in the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relay events, 400m, and high jump, with Aaron Whyte in charge of the team.
“I think this is a huge step and a positive development because what we would want is for our athletes to be exposed to high-level competitions like this.
“This is where it starts,” said Whyte.
“We, obviously, then expect them to qualify for senior competitions, but this is a stepping stone.
“We would expect them to gain some experience through these competitions, so that when they go to senior level, when they qualify or try to qualify for major competitions like the World Championships, Olympics, it’s not something that’s new to them.
“But they would have participated at this stage at a junior level, which then makes it easier for them to just have that transition from junior level to senior level,” he said.
Zimbabwe are being represented by Nenyasha Chihora, Nataly Shoko, Anesu Nyahuma, Alvin Simon, Ropafadzo Mzondo, Tatenda Chindowa, Gift Khumalo, Emmanuel Uriga, and Malachi Mafunga.
Most of the athletes will compete in the relays, while Mzondo will also be on the starting line for 400m.
Chindowa is taking part in high jump.
Zimbabwe will be in action today when the competition gets underway at Hayward Field at 7pm (Zimbabwean time) with the mixed 4x400m relay team up for the first round.
For Whyte, a seasoned coach, it is not just about competing for honours, but he would also want to see the young athletes bring the experience and lessons back home to the world stage.
“We cannot take everyone as much as we would want to take a huge contingent. But we believe that the fact that we have got youngsters who are going to take part in this stage here, it has a huge positive impact on their peers who are staying behind.
“They can also learn a lot from them, and they can also come and impart some knowledge to their peers.
“We believe that the fact that we have teams that can travel and compete at such levels is actually a testament that we are making inroads in the world athletics stage,” said Whyte.
“And going to the World Championships is not easy. It’s not one of those competitions whereby you got to say, I am just going to have fun or for development purposes.
“But it’s a stage whereby you are preparing athletes to say, okay, you are now coming out of junior level, you are going to senior level,” added Whyte.
Uriga, who is up for the relays, will be hoping to build on his experience from the Southern African Confederation of Athletics (SACA) Under-18 and Under-20 Championships in Mauritius.
It was his first meet outside the country and was part of the mixed 4x400m relay team that won gold.
Speaking just before his departure for the US, Uriga said, “I learned a lot. You only have to be well composed when it comes to competitions.
“I am happy to go to the World Junior Championships. The kind of experience, the kind of exposure is building me up day in day out, such that I can improve my performance.
“As for Mauritius, I was not even confident enough. But as for this one, I am confident enough as it is not the first outside race,” said Uriga.
